Pneumatic drill hammer



m.. 15, 1959 R. o. DULANEY 2,917,925

PNEUMATIC DRILL HAMMER Filed June s, 195e IN VENTOR Aach/4R0 az yA/EYuit PNEUll/IAHC DRILL HAMMER Richard O. Dnlaney, Fort Worth, Tex.Application June 3, 1958, Serial No. 739,524 3 Claims. (Cl. 121-16) Thisinvention relates to Well drilling implements, and` more particularly toa rotary drill hammer implement of the pneumatic type adapted to dig bya combination of rotary scraping and pounding action.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel( and improvedrotary drill hammer for use in well drill- Further objects andadvantages of the invention will be` come apparent from the followingdescription and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical cross sectional view taken through a rotary drillhammer constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown withthe parts thereof arranged to elevate the hammer element at thebeginning of the cycle of movement of said hammer element duringoperation of the drilling implement.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view of the deviceshown in Figure 1 with the parts in the positions assumed thereby whenthe casing is lifted to rotate the drill tool.

Figure 3 is a top plan view ofthe well drilling implement of Figures land 2. A

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken substantially on theline 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken substantially on theline 5--5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the well drilling implement is designatedgenerally at 11 and comprises a vertical, generally cylindrical maincasing 12. Threadedly engaged in and thus secured to the lower end ofmain casing 12 is a bearing sleeve member 13 which is generallycylindrical in shape and which contains a tool supporting tube 14 whichextends slidably through said bearing sleeve 13 and which is thus guidedfor axial movement.

The tube 14 has the externally threaded bottom end 15, and threadedlyengaged thereon is a tubular tool support 16, said tool support havingthe reduced top portion 17 which is slidably receivable in an annularrecess 18 defined between the reduced bottom wall portion 19 of bearingsleeve 13 and the lower end of the tube 14.

As shown in Figure 4, the tube 14 is square in transverse crosssectional shape and is slidably but non-rotatably received in a squarebore 20 provided in the bearing sleeve 13. This allows torque to betransmitted from the casing 12 to the tubular tool support 16, butallows said tool support 16 to be extended somewhat relative to thecasing, for example, as shown in Figure 2.

The supporting tube 14 is formed with the externally threaded, reducedtop portion 21, and threadedly secured thereon is an annular head member22 which is sealingly and slidingly engageable with the inside surfaceof the may be rotated by torque exerted on the casing 12 be-l ICC maincasing 12. The head member 22 is formed with a plurality of downwardlyand outwardly inclined liuid passages 23 extending from its top surfaceto its bottom surface. The lower portion of the main. casing 12 isformed with a plurality of exhaust ports 24 located above andimmediately adjacent to the top surface of the bearing sleeve 13. Asshown in Figure 2, the head member 22 is formed with a conical valveseat 25 containing the top ends of the passages 23.

Threadedly secured in the top end of the main casing 12 is an annularhead member 2,6 formed with a reduced externally threaded supportingportion 27 for attachment to a supporting pipe section. Designated at 28is a tubular stem member which is threadedly secured in the head member26 and which is sealed relative thereto by an annular gasket 29 ofresilient deformable material disposed in a sealing recess provided inhead member 26 below the external threads 30 on the stem member 28. Thestem member 28 extends slidably and sealingly into the top end of thesupporting tube 14.

Designated at 31 is a sleeve valve element which is slidably engaged onthe stern member 28, said sleeve valve element being provided with anenlarged bottom end portion 32 formed With a conical valve face 33sealingly engageable in the conical valve seat 25 to close off thepassages 23, as illustrated in Figure 1.

The annular top head member 26 is formed with a plurality of upwardlyand outwardly inclined passages 34 which open at a conical valve seat 35formed in the bottom surface of the head member 26, said passages 34serving at times to exhaust the top space beneath the head member 26 tothe atmosphere. Secured on the top end of the sleeve valve element 31 isan enlarged head member 36 formed with a conical valve element 37 at itstop end which is sealingly engageable at times with the valve seat 35,as shown in Figure 2, whereby to close olf .th exhaust passages 34.

The lower portion of the tubular stem 28 is formed with a pair ofdiametrically opposed slots 37', 37 which are at times registrable withradial passages 38, 38 formed in the bottom enlarged member 32 of thesleeve valve element 31, namely, in the position of the parts shown inFigure l wherein valve element 33 engages Valve seat 25, and also in theelevated position of the valve sleeve member 31, wherein the top valveelement 37 engages the valve seat 35.

The tubular stem 28 is formed in itsupperl portion with a pair ofdiametrically opposed passages 39, 39 which are at times registrablewith diametrically opposed radial passages 40, 40 formed in the enlargedtop member 36. namely, when the valve element 37 is in sealingengagement with the valve seat 35, as shown in Figure 2.

Designated at 41 is an annular hammer member which is slidably andsealingly engaged with the inside wall surface of the main casing 12 andwhich is similarly slidably engaged on the valve sleeve member 31. Abottom coiled spring 42 is provided on the valve sleeve member 31,bearing between an annular shoulder 43 formed thereon and the bottomsurface of the hammer member 41. A similar coiled spring 44 surroundsthe upper portion of the valve sleeve element 31 bearing between anannular shoulder 45 provided on the top member 36 and the top surface ofthe hammer member 41. A further coiled spring 47 is disposed between thehammer member 41 and the head member 26, normally biasing the hammermember 41 to the position thereof illustrated in Figure l, namely, toanV intermediate position ou the valve sleeve element 31.

it will be understood that a rotary drilling tool is attached to thetubular tool supporting member 16 and cause of the torque-transmittingconnection defined ber 2,917,025 .r n f f tween the squared supportingtube 14 and the square inside bore of the member 13.

Suitable uid under pressure is pumped down through the stern member 28and enters the space 48 beneath the hammer member 41 through theregistering apertures 37 and 38. The pressure fluid acts von the bottomof the hammer member 41 elevating same and exerting upward force on thevalve sleeve member 31 through the'spring 44 and the top shoulder 45 ofmember 36. Eventually the hammer member 41 rises sufficiently to buildvup enough force in the spring 44 to suddenly elevate the valve sleevemember 31, driving the top member 36 into sealing position against thevalve seat 35 because of the inertia of the hammer member 41, landbringing the passages 39 and 4,0 into registry while lifting the bottomvalve element 33 o the valve seat 25. This allows the pressure fluid tobe rapidly admitted into the `space above the hammer member 41while atthe same time allowing the space 48 below the hammer member to quicklyexhaust through passages 23, the space 49 below member 22 and thepassages 24. Therefore, the force of the pressure iiuid, combined withthat of the tensed springs 44 and 47 suddenly acts on the hammer member41 to drive same downwardly into engagement with an anvil shoulder Stiprovided on the lower portion of the valve sleeve member 31, deliveringsubstantial impact thereto and driving same downwardly into engagementwith the member 22, whereby the impact is transmitted to the tube 14 andthe tool supporting member 16. The parts are thus restored to thepositions thereof shown in Figure l, after which the above describedcycle may be repeated.

When the casing 12 is lifted, for example, to rotate the drill tool, theweight of the tool causes the top surface 52 of the member 13 to comeinto sealing engagement with the bottom surface of the member 22,shutting oif the passages 23 and preventing hammering action at thistime. Under these conditions the pressure uid moves the hammer memberand the member 36 upwardly to cause the valve member 37 to come intoseating engagement with valve seat 35, shutting olf the exhaust passages34. Also, as will be noted in Figure 2, under these conditions the toppassages 39 and 40 are in registry, whereby the pressure iluid isadmitted to the spaces both above and below the hammer member 41, sothat the hammer member will not be driven downwardly. Al-

though the pressures above and below the hammer member 41 are equal, thepressure area below the hammer member is greater than that above, sinceit includes the bottom of member 32, and this is suiiicient to holdValve 37 in sealing engagement with seat 35. the implement is beinglifted to rotate the drilling tool, the weight of the tool acts toVstall the `action of the hammer 41, preventing such action until themain casing 12 has been lowered from the position of Figure 2 to theposition of Figure l.

As will be readily understood, any desired type of pressure fluid may beemployed, for example, compressed air, water under pressure, or thelike.

While aspeciiic embodiment of an improved well drilling device of therotary hammer type has been disclosed in the foregoing description, itwill be understood that various modifications within the spirit of theinvention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it isintended that no limitations be placed on the invention except asdefined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. `In a well drilling device, a vertical main casing, a bearing sleevesecured to the lower end of said main casing, a tool-supporting tubeextending slidably through said bearing sleeve, a tubular tool supportsecured to the lower end of said supporting tube and being slidable inthe lower portion of said bearing sleeve, an annular head member securedto the top end of said supporting tube and being sealingly slidable -insaid main casing, said head member being formed with a fluid passage ex-Therefore, while tending from its top surface to its bottom surface, thewall of said main casing being formed with an exhaust port above andadjacent the top surface of said bearing sleeve, said main casingincluding an annular top head member, a tubular stem member secured tosaid top head member and extending slidably into the upper portion ofsaid supporting tube, a sleeve valve element slidably engaged on saidstem member, a valve seat on the top surface of said bearing sleeve avalve member on the bottom end of said sleeve valve element sealinglyengageable with said valve seat responsive to downward movement of saidsleeve valve element, said last-named annular top head member beingformed with an exhaust port opening at its bottom surface, saidlast-named bottom surface being formed with a valve seat, a valve memberon the top end of said sleeve valve element sealingly engageable withsaid second-named valve seat responsive to upward movement of saidsleeve valve element, an annular irnpact member slidably engaged on saidsleeve valve element and slidably and `sealingly engaging the insidesurface o f said main casing, and means yieldably supporting said impactmember on and yieldably transmitting vertical movement of said impactmember to said sleeve valve element, said stem member being formed withrespective valve apertures below and above said impact member, and saidsleeve valve element being formed with apertures at its bottom and topportions aligned respectively with the valve apertures of said `stemmember, the aperture of the stem member below .said impact member beingconstructed and arranged to register at all times with the bottomaperture of the sleeve valve element and the top aperture of the sleevevalve element being constructed and arranged to register with theaperture of the stem member above said impact member when saidsecond-named valve member engages the second-named valve seat, saidyieldable supporting means being constructed and arranged to bias saidsleeve valve element downwardly with said first-named `valve member insealing engagement with said first-named valve seat and to store upsuii'icient force to cause said sleeve valve element to move suddenlyupwardly to unseat the first-named valve member and cause thesecond-named valve member to engage vrsaid second-named valve seat.

2. ln a well drilling device, a vertical main casing, a bearing sleevesecured to the lower end of said main casing, a tool-supporting tubeextending slidably Vthrough said bearing sleeve, a tubular tool supportsecured to the lower end of said supporting tube and being slidable inthe lower portion of said bearing sleeve, an annular head member@secured to the top end of said supporting tube and being sealinglyslidable in said main casing, said `head member being formed with afluid passage extending -from vits top surface to its bottom surface,the wall of said Amain .casing being formed with an ,exhaust port aboveand adjacent the top surface of said bearing sleeve, said main casingincluding an annular top head mem-ber, a tubular stem member secured tosaidV lastnamed top head member and extending slidably into the upperportion of said supporting tube, a sleeve valve element slidably engagedon said stem member, a valve seat on the top surface of said bearingsleeve, a valve member on the bottom .end of said sleeve valve elementsealingly engageable with said valve seat responsive to downwardmovement of said sleeve valve .elementQsaid lastnamed top head memberbeing formed with an exhaust port opening at its bottom surface, saidlast-named bottom ,Surface being formed with a valve seat, a valvemember on the top end of said sleeve valve element sealingly engageablewith said second-named valve seat responsive to upward movement of saidsleeve valve element, an annular impact member slidably engaged on saidsleeve valve element and slidably and sealingly engaging the insidesurface of said main casing, respective coiled springs bearing betweenthe top and bottom portionsof said sleeve valve element and said impactmember and resiliently supporting said impact member on the sleeve.'atve element and yieldably transmitting vertical movement of saidimpact member to said sleeve valve element, said stem member beingformed with respective valve apertures below and above said impactmember, and said sleeve valve element being formed with apertures at itsbottom and top portions, aligned respectively with the valve aperturesof said stem member, the aperture of the stem member below said impactmember being constructed and arranged to register at all times with thebottom aperture of the sleeve valve element and the top aperture of thesleeve valve element being constructed and arranged to register with theaperture of the stem member above said impact member when saidsecondnamed valve member engages said second-named valve seat, saidcoiled springs being constructed and arranged to bias said sleeve valveelement downwardly with said rst-named valve member in sealingengagement with said irst-named valve seat and to store up sucient forceto cause said sleeve valve element to move suddenly upwardly to unseatthe rst-named valve member and cause the second-named valve member toengage said secondnamed valve seat.

3. ln a well drilling device, a vertical main casing, a bearing sleevesecured to the lower end of said main casing, a tool-supporting tubeextending slidably through said bearing sleeve, a tubular tool supportsecured to the lower end of said supporting tube and being slidable inthe lower portion of said bearing sleeve, an annular head member secured`to the top end of said supporting tube and being sealingly slidable insaid main casing, said head member being formed with a fluid passageextending from its top surface to its bottom surface, the wall of saidmain casing being formed with an exhaust port above and adjacent the topsurface of said bearing sleeve, said main casing including an annulartop head member, a tubular stem member secured to said last-named tophead member and extending slidably into the upper portion of saidsupporting tube, a sleeve valve element slidably engaged on said stemmember, a valve seat on the top surface of said bearing sleeve, a valvemember on the bottom end of said sleeve valve element sealinglyengageable with said valve seat responsive to downward movement of saidsleeve valve element, said last-named top head member being formed withan exhaust port opening at its bottom surface, said last-named bottomsurface being formed with a valve seat a valve member on the top end ofsaid sleeve valve element sealingly engageable with said second-namedvalve seat responsive to upward movement of said sleeve valve element,an annular impact member slidably engaged on said sleeve valve elementand slidably and sealingly engaging the inside surface of said maincasin-g, said sleeve valve element being formed with annular bearingshoulders at its top and bottom ends, respective coiled springs on saidsleeve valve element bearing between said bearing shoulders and the topand bottom surfaces of said impact member and resiliently supportingsaid impact member on the sleeve valve element and yieldablytransmitting vertical movement of said impact member to said sleevevalve element, said stem member being formed with respective valveapertures below and above said impact member, and said sleeve valveelement being formed with apertures at its bottom and top portionsaligned respectively with the valve apertures of said stem member, theaperture of the stem member below said impact member being constructedand arranged to register at all times with the bottom aperture of thesleeve valve element and the top aperture of the sleeve valve elementbeing constructed and arranged to register with the aperture of the stemmember above said impact member when. said secondnamed valve memberengages said second-named valve seat, said coiled springs beingconstructed and arranged to bias said sleeve valve element downwardlywith said first-named valve member in sealing engagement with saidfirst-named valve seat and to store up sufficient force to cause saidsleeve valve element to move suddenly upwardly to unseat the rst-namedvalve member and cause the second-named valve member to engage saidsecondnamed valve seat.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,673,713 Ringler Mar. 30, 1954 2,800,884 Mori July 30, 1957 2,813,516Dulaney Nov. 19, 1957 2,837,317 Hulshizer June 3, 1958 2,851,251 MoriSept. 9, 1958 2,887,989 Dulaney May 26, 1959

